I wouldn't say sportier. I would say more confident, more direct. The nature of the recirculating box steering arrangement doesn't lend itself to sportiness. I was actually surprised by the change from the JKS TR though. I wasn't expecting a notable difference from just doing the tie rod. It makes you realize how much flex there is in the OEM thin-tube tie rod. The new TREs will probably help more with the wobble than anything else.

Regarding steering stabilizers: I was feeling way too much steering wobble, and bumps were too harsh in the wheel. Hit a bump, have to correct the steering. All the TREs tested out ok by hand and my track bar has maybe 10k on it. Put the Moog STB on it, now it just rolls over bumps like a steamroller. Like the Jeep is flattening out the world. Made a huge difference over the OEM SS.

Good good, that is what I wanted to hear. I want to get rid of that wobble and do exactly like what you said and just be over to roll over anything with confidence and not have to worry about the suspension going everywhere. We shall see how it goes.

I am still running my stock track bar. I may need to look at putting the JKS on if the front doesn't settle some. I do have that RC-X SS and I don't know how great that is. Because we all know how excelled Rough Country is (blatant sarcasm, just in case). I may invest in the Moog STB if I feel the need for it. I have heard good things about it and its pretty beefy too.

Hahahaha, It would probably take forever to actually go through the entire thing and read all our chat and the progress of my Jeep. The first page has a decent Table of Contents with links if you have not already seen it.

False. On our Jeeps, a steering stabilizer is necessary to prevent death wobble. The track bar/steering geometry can easily develop a resonant motion side-to-side merely on the bushing compliance and suspension travel. Voila, death wobble. This is specific to vehicles with a solid axle, coil springs, and recirculating steering arrangement. The steering stabilizer damps those vibrations and impacts to prevent the resonance from forming. Even stock JKs experience death wobble from undersized components.

Now on an IFS car with rack & pinion, a steering damper is unnecessary. A great many cars are shipped without them, although the driving experience is certainly more pleasant with it installed.

I also agree, heavier (stiffer) steering components give better feedback and the increase in unsprung weight can make a palpable difference in ride. I certainly felt a difference installing the JKS tie rod, even with original TREs.

reeeheeeeheeeealllllllly, I'll have to chew my roommate out on that one I was very hesitant about taking my SS off and I believed him because he generally knows what he's talking about. I trust your logic more though and it makes sense. I'll have to double check but I've never seen a SS on my buddy's WK. He doesnt get DW but his steering has been quite loose lately but thats a whole different story. Upgrading to the moog components over stock really made a great difference. I drove a stock WJ the other night and the steering felt sloppy in comparison to mine... I'm pretty happy with the investment.

Quote:

Originally Posted by snobrdrkid07

I did not know that it was 100% necessary but that does make sense. Even stock height Jeeps can still get DW.

So what you mean by stiffer is that it gives a more responsive and sportier type steering? Will this new stuff help get rid of that slight wobble that I have on the big bumps?

Wobble... yes.. sportier, not really. Here are some tests to really feel the differences. Go hit some bridge expansion joints on the highway... you'll feel some nice stiff feedback in the wheels. Then on an empty abandoned safe road twitch the wheel left and right firmly (think autocross) but dont do anything near your Jeep's limits. Notice the response of the steering wheel as you change directions... its much more responsive. When I think sporty steering I think of a very tight, not too much assist (I think the Jeep steering (and mine is the earlier less assisted WJ steering) has too much assist) and no deadplay. When I hit a turn its not like toyota/lexus steering where I feel nothing in the wheel. I like a nice tug against what I'm doing. By the way you've heard it before I abhor newer Lexus/Toyota steering its completely numb.

Quote:

Originally Posted by billzcat1

I wouldn't say sportier. I would say more confident, more direct. The nature of the recirculating box steering arrangement doesn't lend itself to sportiness. I was actually surprised by the change from the JKS TR though. I wasn't expecting a notable difference from just doing the tie rod. It makes you realize how much flex there is in the OEM thin-tube tie rod. The new TREs will probably help more with the wobble than anything else.

Regarding steering stabilizers: I was feeling way too much steering wobble, and bumps were too harsh in the wheel. Hit a bump, have to correct the steering. All the TREs tested out ok by hand and my track bar has maybe 10k on it. Put the Moog STB on it, now it just rolls over bumps like a steamroller. Like the Jeep is flattening out the world. Made a huge difference over the OEM SS.

Exactly... I couldnt say it any better way... there is way too much flex in the OEM sleeve. Seeing as Michael got the Moog adjusting sleeves he should have fixed that (the moog components are quite beefy and weigh at least 3x what the stock components do). I as well am running the moog STB and it does a great job. If anything I get a bit of bump steer that I'm not used to in the WJ that the Moog is unable to flatten out (reminisces me to the days of my XJ and ZJ) but its okay because its a pretty tight feeling and no wobbles lets me know that all is well and tight.

reeeheeeeheeeealllllllly, I'll have to chew my roommate out on that one I was very hesitant about taking my SS off and I believed him because he generally knows what he's talking about. I trust your logic more though and it makes sense. I'll have to double check but I've never seen a SS on my buddy's WK. He doesnt get DW but his steering has been quite loose lately but thats a whole different story. Upgrading to the moog components over stock really made a great difference. I drove a stock WJ the other night and the steering felt sloppy in comparison to mine... I'm pretty happy with the investment.

reeeheeeeeeeeheeeeeeeeealllllllyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Hahaha. How do you put a SS on a steering setup like the WK has? I can't wait for the new stuff!

Quote:

Originally Posted by compcrasher86

Wobble... yes.. sportier, not really. Here are some tests to really feel the differences. Go hit some bridge expansion joints on the highway... you'll feel some nice stiff feedback in the wheels. Then on an empty abandoned safe road twitch the wheel left and right firmly (think autocross) but dont do anything near your Jeep's limits. Notice the response of the steering wheel as you change directions... its much more responsive. When I think sporty steering I think of a very tight, not too much assist (I think the Jeep steering (and mine is the earlier less assisted WJ steering) has too much assist) and no deadplay. When I hit a turn its not like toyota/lexus steering where I feel nothing in the wheel. I like a nice tug against what I'm doing. By the way you've heard it before I abhor newer Lexus/Toyota steering its completely numb.

Good, I want that wobble GONE. Yeah, get rid of that play in the steering wheel too! YES

So those new toyota's dont have any feedback, meaning you go over a bump and you feel nothing?

Something like that is numb to drive... It's easy. Toyota wants to make cars that are easy to drive, sounds appealing on paper, no? Whereas when you actually want to DRIVE the car hard and have fun the over assisted steering gets pretty old. When you come into a turn hard in a BMW (maybe not your moms so much because the newer BMWs focus on comfort more than driver feel) you feel a nice natural pressure (not a jerking because the linkage is tight) but just enough to remind you what you're doin. Now fun fact a lot of BMWs until just recently have been using recirculating ball steering just like our Jeeps do. But the steering in the WJs was designed around being comfortable and absorbing shock which is why we often get that loose feeling.

Gotcha. It does sound good on paper. But it really isn't driving like what you are saying. Mom's BMW has a really tight steering and you feel in compete control. It takes effort to turn that wheel and it does have feedback for sure. Its a very sporty type steering. When you are turning hard it takes that extra effort to keep it there.

I know it has been said that some people were having issues with their JKS TB Bushings being to soft when they werent cranked way down. I wonder if these would fit in the JKS bar as replacement or upgrade? I do not know much about them. IRO TB Bushings

I know it has been said that some people were having issues with their JKS TB Bushings being to soft when they werent cranked way down. I wonder if these would fit in the JKS bar as replacement or upgrade? I do not know much about them. IRO TB Bushings